Division of Unemployment Insurance

Update on Overpayment Determinations

An unemployment insurance overpayment occurs when a claimant (an individual who applies for unemployment insurance benefits) receives a benefit payment which they should not have received. As of September 25, 2023, the Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance resumed sending overpayment determinations to claimants who received overpayments.

• The determination contains important information, including the amount overpaid, the reason for the overpayment, and appeal rights and procedures.
   
• For more information about overpayments, see the UI Benefit Payment Control (BPC) FAQs.
   
• Claimants who apply and who meet certain eligibility requirements may have their overpayments waived. For more details, see the Overpayment Waiver webpage.

Information for New Claimants

If you are a claimant (an individual who files a claim for unemployment insurance benefits) who is new to the unemployment insurance process, visit the Information for New Claimants webpage

Information for New Employers

If you are an employer who is new to the unemployment insurance (UI) process, visit the Information for New Employers webpage.

Contact Information

The Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance (the Division) offers several ways claimants, employers, and third-party agents can contact us. See the list below for our primary contact methods.

Please be assured that Maryland does not have a waiting week for UI claims, like many other states do. Claims are effective the week in which they are filed.

Important Contact Information and Links

**IMPORTANT WARNING**

The Maryland Department of Labor (MD DOL) Benefit Payment Control (BPC) Fraud Unit, or any other unit, will never ask for your BEACON username, password, or banking information through an email or a text message.

All Maryland Department of Labor (MD DOL) email addresses end in .gov. If you receive an email from Ui.fraud@maryland.dol.info and/or from “Maryland BPC Fraud Unit”, please delete it and mark it as Spam.

If you receive an email or text asking for your username, password, banking details, or knowledge-based questions that only you would know the answer to, NEVER respond or open any attachments it contains. You should NEVER provide your details through any website linked in the email or text. Your username and password are for your use only.

If you receive a questionable email or text and have questions, contact MD DOL at 667-207-6520.

Assessment Notice and Pending Civil Action Letters Reinstated

Effective May 2023, the Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance (Division) has reinstated the process of mailing the Assessment Notice and Pending Civil Action letters. These letters are sent to employers who were previously informed that they owe payments. 

The Division mails at least one delinquency letter to an employer before sending the Assessment Notice and Pending Civil Action letter. Please note that the Division seeks to assist employers in paying quarterly unemployment insurance taxes. 

• The Division offers payment plan options. See the Maryland's Unemployment Insurance Payment Plans webpage to learn more.
   
• Employers are encouraged to request interest and penalty waivers after filing the reports and paying applicable contributions or opting into a payment plan.
   
• Additional information about this process, including a video and Frequently Asked Questions, are available on our website.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Maryland Unemployment Insurance Contributions Division at 410-949-0033 or toll free 1-800-492-5524.

New Power of Attorney Form and Process

Effective April 28, 2023, the Division instituted a new Power of Attorney (POA) form and authorization process. As of April 28, employers are required to include the following on the POA form:

• Third Party-Administrator/Agent (TPA) Unemployment Insurance ID number.
• Communication preference for each power that is being granted to the TPA.

Please note that approving a POA designation for a TPA takes up to seven business days. No access will be granted to the TPA before the approval. Once approval is granted, the TPA will receive access to perform the requested functions.

To access the form, see the Power of Attorney Authorization Instructions and Form on the Flyers, Forms, and Publications for Employers & Third Party Agents webpage.

Important Unemployment Mobile App Update!

The Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance (the Division) updated the MD Unemployment for Claimants mobile app on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

To accommodate this update, the Division will be releasing a new version of the app, which you can download from the Google Play Store and the iOS App Store.

If you previously downloaded the app, you must update it for the app to operate properly.

• If you set up automatic updates for the app, it should update without any action on your part.
   
• If you did not set up automatic updates for the app, you will be prompted to begin the update when you see one of the following error messages:
   
  • App Not Supported Error - This error message will include a Get Update button, which you should select to begin the update process. After selecting the button, you will be redirected to either the Google Play Store or the iOS App Store to update the app.

     

  • SSL Not Matching Error - If you see this error message, you should go to the Google Play Store or iOS App Store to update the app.

    

BEACON System

Overview

The BEACON unemployment insurance (UI) system launched in September 2020 for claimants, employers, and third party agents. BEACON integrates all benefits, appeals, and tax functions of the UI system.

• Claimant BEACON portal
• Employer BEACON portal
• Third party agent BEACON portal

Download the Claimant and Employer Mobile Apps

In addition to the online BEACON system, the Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance created two BEACON mobile apps: MD Unemployment for Claimants; and MD Unemployment for Employers.

BEACON Mobile App for Claimants

MD Unemployment for Claimants is available to download for free from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. The mobile app allows claimants to easily file their weekly claim certifications, view and update claimant information, and more directly from their mobile device.

BEACON Mobile App for Employers

MD Unemployment for Employers is available to download for free from the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store. Registered employers can use the mobile app to make contribution payments, submit wage reports, file appeals, and more directly from their mobile device.

Features

The BEACON system offers dozens of features for our stakeholders. Check out the functionalities and features below:

BEACON Resources

• BEACON Claimant Tutorial Videos
• BEACON Claimant FAQs
• BEACON Claimant Portal User Guide
• BEACON Glossary of Terms
• BEACON Employers and Third Party Agents Tutorial Videos
• BEACON Employer FAQs
• Employer and Third Party Agent Instructions for Submitting Files in BEACON

Need Help?

Claimants who have questions regarding BEACON should call a claims agent at 667-207-6520. Employers or third party agents who have questions should call the Employer Call Center at 410-949-0033.

Work Search Requirements

Claimants must meet several requirements to be eligible for UI benefits, including work search requirements.

To meet Maryland’s work search requirements, a claimant must:

• register in the Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE) system;
• upload or create a résumé in MWE, make the résumé viewable to employers, and maintain an up-to-date résumé while collecting UI benefits;
  • After you complete your MWE registration, check your MWE inbox frequently for information about weekly tasks or actions that you are required to complete. Failure to complete these activities may result in a delay or denial of your UI benefits
• complete at least three valid reemployment activities each week, which must include at least one job contact; and,
• keep a detailed weekly record of all completed job contacts and valid reemployment activities. Claimants are strongly urged to use the Job Contact and Reemployment Activity Log, located in MWE, to keep this record.

Detailed instructions for completing the requirements listed above are available on the Maryland Work Search Requirements webpage. For work search exemptions, see the Work Search FAQs.

NOTE: The work search requirement was temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2021, the work search requirements were reinstated.

For additional information, see the:

• Work Search FAQs;
• Maryland's Valid Reemployment Activities list; and,
• Job Contact and Reemployment Activity Log video tutorial .

Information about additional claimant requirements is available in the Eligibility Requirements FAQs.

Fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Activity

Report Fraud

If you believe that your information has been used to fraudulently file an unemployment insurance (UI) claim, please complete a Request for Investigation of Unemployment Insurance Fraud form and return it: by email to ui.fraud@maryland.gov; mail to Benefit Payment Control, Room 206, 1100 North Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD 21201; or fax to 410-767-2610.

If you received a 1099-G tax form, but did not receive UI benefits in Maryland during the prior calendar year:

• complete this Affidavit form and submit it, along with picture ID to dlui1099-labor@maryland.gov.

If you are an employer and believe a fraudulent claim has been charged to your account, please file a benefit charge protest through your BEACON employer portal.

For detailed information about UI fraud in Maryland and protecting yourself from UI fraud scams, see the UI Fraud Awareness and Reporting Instructions webpage.

Identity Theft Resources

If you believe you have been a victim of identity theft, please read the Identity Theft Protection Quick Guide. For more information see the Commissioner of Financial Regulation identity theft page, and the Maryland Department of Labor and Maryland State Police information.

Additional State Resources

If you are in need of additional financial assistance, the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation website provides information about mortgage relief, foreclosure prevention, and student loan relief programs, as well as other consumer resources. 

You may be eligible for additional supportive benefits and services through the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS). In addition to cash and food purchasing support, you may qualify for counseling and other services. Find out what services may be available for you by completing an initial application online or by contacting the DHS 24-hour helpline at 1-800-332-6347.

For additional resources from the state departments of Labor, Human Resources, and Housing and Community Development, please visit the State of Maryland Financial Resources & Services.